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Province has to come on board to help with the air-rail link Toronto needs

More stops, electrification and affordable trip are essential.

The current proposed Union Station-Pearson airport rail link would have only two stops.

By Frances Nunziataand Mike Layton

Tues., April 10, 2012

After the cancellation of the Eglinton subway line in 1995, the City of Toronto requested that senior levels of government build a rapid transit connection between Pearson airport and Union Station using what was referred to as the CN Weston Corridor. The need for this connection has not changed.

When the air-rail link was originally proposed, there was a call for it to operate as a public transit line with at least 10 stops in the communities along the way. However, instead of coming forward with a plan to fulfill this need, the province instead proposed an air-rail link which, at this time, would stop at only two stations — one in Weston and one at Bloor.

Even the plans for the Bloor stop no longer include integration with the Dundas West subway station for ease of transfer between lines. The air-rail link in its current form does not integrate with other major transit expansion projects in the city, and does not integrate with the new Eglinton light rail transit line.

It is well known that the air-rail link as currently planned, with only two stops along the way, will not fulfill the need for rapid transit to the airport — this is an unfortunate missed opportunity. The Union-to-Pearson rail corridor offers the potential for an above-ground electric subway-style service for the west end.

There is no reason why stops should not be added along it to see this line fulfill the need for rapid transit to the airport. Communities across Toronto have called for additional stops at Humber, Woodbine, Etobicoke North, Jane Street, Eglinton Avenue West, Carleton Village, the Junction and Liberty Village.

We need this line to not only help people get to and from the airport for travel, but also for work. There are 355,000 jobs in the Pearson airport eco-business zone which overlaps three regional municipalities. Toronto workers would no longer have to spend hours commuting to the corner of the city by bus or packed on the highway.

As the Clean Train festival on April 28 will undoubtedly show, the call for electrification of the line has not stopped. Toronto City Council, the medical officer of health and thousands across Toronto have repeatedly requested the electrification of the line. Frequent dirty diesel trains running through our neighbourhoods are not healthy and not necessary.

Instead of running diesel trains for a business class premium fare express service between Union Station and the airport, we should maximize the impact of the provincial investment in the air-rail link. The line currently proposed is to operate at full cost recovery, which means trip costs will not only exceed TTC fares but even current GO Transit fares. We must build the air-rail link from the start as a healthy, affordable and sustainable electric transit line that stops in our neighbourhoods so Toronto can use it.

At city council this week, we will be voting on the addition of stops, electrification and ensuring the air-rail link provides affordable public transit to the airport. We ask that the province continue to respect the will of Toronto City Council on these matters.

Additional stops, electrification and affordable trip costs will ensure the air-rail link serves our communities across the west end of the city. Torontonians are in agreement on the air-rail link. Now, we need the province to come on board.

Frances Nunziata is Toronto city councillor for Ward 11, York South-Weston, and Mike Layton is councillor for Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina

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